Exactly two years ago, Arsenal players could not handle the horrible
double leg-break that Eduardo sustained after a tackle by Martin Taylor
in a game at Birmingham City.

After conceding a late equaliser, captain William Gallas slumped in
tearful disbelief and from that moment, Arsenal effectively conceded
the Premier League title.

This time promises to be different. A similarly sickening injury to
Aaron Ramsey, 19, after 65 minutes – a compound fracture of his lower
right leg – made players near him, particularly Thomas Vermaelen, look
visibly sick.

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, who was called up for England by
Fabio Capello last night, committed the foul that earned him a red card
from Peter Walton and he himself trudged away distraught at the injury.

Somehow, the other Arsenal players found the resolve to turn a 1-1
draw into a win that takes them within three points of leaders Chelsea,
beaten by Manchester City.

Once again, Arsenal's captain played a vital role. Cesc Fabregas,
who inherited the armband from Gallas, took responsibility for a
potentially season-changing penalty after Danny Pugh handled Nicklas
Bendtner's pass in the 90th minute.

Spot on: Fabregas gives the Gunners the lead at the Britannia Stadium

The Spaniard slotted the spot-kick low to Thomas Sorensen's left and
as he wheeled away to celebrate, the Arsenal fans were already chanting
'There's only one Aaron Ramsey'.

Then, in the sixth of seven minutes added on, Vermaelen fired a third.

Manager Arsene Wenger said: 'I am very proud of my players but I
cannot be happy because of what happened to Ramsey. It is hard to enjoy
the victory.'

He bemoaned a third skilful Arsenal player to suffer long-term injury, following similar traumas to Abou Diaby and Eduardo.

Tears: Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City is consoled by team mate Thomas Sorensen as he leaves the pitch after being sent off for a challenge on Aaron Ramsey

But Fabregas made it clear the Arsenal reaction to Ramsey's injury
was born out of experience from that afternoon at St Andrew's in 2008.

Ironically, Eduardo himself - a substitute yesterday - came off the
bench after witnessing Ramsey's agony and later helped set up the third
goal.

Fabregas said: 'We learned from what happened with Eduardo. We lost a lead at Birmingham that day.

'It is very difficult to stand up in these situations but we showed
character and knew if we won today we still had a lot to say in the
title race.

'I've seen this happen to three teammates in five years and it's
difficult to take. We are not protected enough. When you speak to the
referee, it is always "play on, play on". I know this is England and
it's a great game, but sometimes we are victims.'

He stoops to conquer: Danny Pugh puts Stoke ahead

Any positive feelings Arsenal took into the game evaporated after
eight minutes when they were caught out once again by Rory Delap's long
throw.

Delap had created two goals in Stoke's 3-1 win in the FA Cup against
Arsenal in January. His horizontal throw went like an arrow to the head
of Shawcross, who escaped Bacary Sagna to flick on to the far post
where Danny Pugh finished with a close-range scramble.

It took Arsenal until the half-hour to recover their poise and the
irony was that when they levelled after 32 minutes, it came from a
header of which any Stoke player would have been proud.

Agony: Aaron Ramsey has suffered a suspected broken leg

Fabregas floated to the right flank and delivered a perfectly
curved cross towards the six-yard box. Stoke had four six-footers back
but Bendtner rose brilliantly and hung in the air to power an
unstoppable header past Sorensen.

Going Potty: Vermaelen secures all three points

Arsenal dominated the second half and Ramsey felt he should have had
a penalty when he was grabbed in the area by Abdoulaye Faye.

Emmanuel
Eboue then had a shot turned over by Sorensen.

But this competitive and enjoyable contest turned to horror when Shawcross caught Ramsey near halfway.

Somehow, though, Arsenal found the will to win.

Bendtner tried to
flick the ball through to a colleague and it struck Pugh's hand. Walton
pointed to the spot and Fabregas scored.

In added time, Bendtner and Eduardo played a part as Vermaelen made
it 3-1 before emotional scenes at the end Stoke boss Tony Pulis
defended Shawcross: 'He'd never deliberately break someone's leg.
But what happened is sad for football. It made the game
inconsequential.'